Defensive back John Bonney is among the area’s top recruits. (Eric Christian Smith/For the Chronicle)

John Bonney, a star defensive back at Lamar, made national news earlier this week, saying former Texas coach Mack Brown was happy to “assist and help” Bonney, and other recruits, play football somewhere other than Texas.

The headlines and national discussion based off Bonney’s comments suggested that Brown, who told the Longhorns of his resigning on Dec. 14 after 16 years at the helm, was encouraging athletes not to play for the Longhorns.

But Bonney’s comments, his father said, only included part of Brown’s message he delivered to recruits that day and that the growing recent national storyline is entirely wrong.

“He said, ‘First and foremost, I hope that all of you keep your commitment the University of Texas. I can’t tell you who the new coach is going to be, but I’m sure they’re going to pick a good one,’” said Jerry Bonney, whose son made the initial comments in an interview with KTRK. “Then he said, ‘However, if there’s anyone here who your main reason for coming here and committing to the University of Texas is because you wanted me to be your head coach, I’m stepping down. For those who fall in that category, I suggest you start looking other places.’”

Bonney, who was just a few yards away from Brown as he spoke, said Brown then added he would “assist and help” recruits with any situation with other coaches if they needed him.

“If you listen to the way John did the interview, it could be misconstrued because John forgot to put in the first part,” Jerry Bonney said.

Brown responded to the national headlines on his Twitter account, posting that his visit with recruits and their families after stepping down were “all positive towards Texas!”

“…I told the entire group that Texas would hire a great coach, it is a wonderful place and they absolutely should still come,” Brown posted.

Brown talked to the recruits following a Saturday practice for the Alamo Bowl.

The message throughout the weekend – before Brown told the team – was he would return for a 17th season.

The weekend included the team’s end-of-year banquet in which university president Bill Powers, new athletic director Steve Patterson and other spoke of the team’s bright future under Brown’s leadership.

It was the same through the Saturday morning practice.

Recruits and families were to attend a function at Brown’s house afterward, but the announcement of his resignation shook up the visit.

It also gave recruits time to look elsewhere before Wednesday’s national signing day.

“The man really did that because he cared about the student athletes that were committed there and he cared about us the parents,” Bonney said.